You might not be able to get rid of sun damage completely, but there are definitely things you can start doing today to get better skin. The UVA and UVB rays from the sun damage your skin in many ways. Constant overexposure to the sun leads to leathery skin now and wrinkles in the future. Even worse, you are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer.

The damaging rays affect your skin by harming it in a way that affects you long term. UVA is the ray you notice when you lay out tanning. You might think that dark glow you got looks gorgeous, but getting a tan means harm has been done to your skin. The UVB is what causes reddening and is the biggest cause of skin cancer. There are times where we just can’t avoid being over exposed to both types of rays. That’s when sunscreen becomes your best friend. Picking the proper sunscreen goes a long way. Start by choosing the right SPF for you. The minimum you should be using is SPF 30. Something higher is reccomended by doctors, especially if you burn easily.

Also, wearing a daily moisturizer with SPF is necessary even if you aren’t planning on being in the sun long. Aveeno has an SPF 30 daily moisturizer foronly $15. Sunscreens have come a long way. There are all kinds and even ones made specifically for different skin types. Also keep in mind what you’ll be doing throughout the day and make it a fun task choosing the right one. If you’re planning a trip to the beach, waterproof sun screen will work to your advantage. A great one to try for daily use is a spray on sunscreen. It’s a light airy protection and keeps you from getting your hands dirty. Just because you’ve applied sun screen doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Re-applying every other hour is just as important, even if it’s water proof.

Now, say you’ve applied protection and somehow couldn’t avoid the sun and ended up with a sun burn. Some people believe that a sun burn will eventually blend into a nice tan, but the opposite actually happens. Being burned damages the skin and increases your chances of it happening again. If this happens to you, don’t freak out. Soothe your skin immediately by applying aloe to the skin. It cools the skin down and heals it. There are lotions that include aloe in their formula like Keri Basic Essentials ($7.00). Not only does it contain Aloe, but it is also hypoallergenic and fragrance free.

The sun unfortunately leads to uneven skin tone and dark spots. Our skin produces melanin pigment, but constant exposure to the sun make the melanin produce abnormally. The abnormal production of this pigment is what leads to freckles and dark spots. There are so many easy to use bronzers to help with tan lines and uneven skin tone. Jergens has different types to choose from. You can use their daily bronzing lotion or mouse for gradual color (8.49). Or if you’re looking for speedier results, try their three day bronzer Jergens Express Glow($8.49). By the second day your skin will be glowing. For the face, applying a tinted moisturizer will not only give you a bronzed complexion but will also blend the uneven skin. Try Clinique’s Moisture Sheer Tint ($27). Exposing your face to the sun can create dark spots. Try limiting and really protecting the spots from getting sun because it will only make them bigger. Running a little low on cash? Before buying a product, try an at-home-remedy. Lemon juice has the power of bleaching out dark spots. Apply it twice a day and you’ll start to notice your spots getting lighter. For quicker results, try a lightening gel or lotion. Murad’s Age Spot and Pigmentation Lightening Gel works wonders ($60).

The sun’s rays have the power of harming not only your skin, but also your hair. It dries it out and quickly fades any color you may have added to it. Throughout the sunny season, trade in your regular shampoo for one that offers protection from the sun like Aveda’s Sun Care Hair and Body Cleanser ($20). Protecting yourself today will keep you healthy tomorrow and reverse the current damages from the sun.